CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Parkland women's basketball held No. 1 Illinois Central to their third-lowest scoring output of the season, but were unable to pull the upset on Wednesday evening. Dropping the M-WAC matchup 59-45, the Cobras were led by a double-double from sophomore forward Micah Tapscott with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Holding the Cougars below 60 points for just the third game this season, and 17 points below their season average, the Cobras limited the top-ranked team in Division II to just 36.2 percent shooting and outscored the visitors from East Peoria in two quarters. However, a 22-12 Illinois Central advantage in the third quarter was too much to overcome for the Cobras.
 
Registering her fourth double-double of the season, Tapscott led the Cobras in both points (11) and rebounds (10). Tapscott has now scored in double figures in four straight games.
 
Trailing the top-ranked Cougars 17-9 at the end of the first quarter, and 25-11 midway through the second quarter, Parkland finished the first half on an 11-2 run to cut into the lead. Leading the effort was a defense that held Illinois Central to two points over the final four minutes of the and a 26-percent shooting percentage for the second quarter.
 
Leading the late first half run was Tapscott with four points to go along with a jumper from Shoente'ra Russell and a layup by Cassie Russo. Down eight with the ball to end the half, Crystal Mathis was fouled on a three-point attempt with two seconds left and converted all three foul shots to put the Cobras within five points, 27-22, at the half.
 
Out of halftime, Illinois Central outscored Parkland 22-12 in the third quarter to retake control of the game. The Cobras held Illinois Central to 10 points in the final quarter, but were unable to overcome the double-digit deficit.
 
Up next, Parkland will conclude its regular season with a 1 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, March 2, against Region 24 foe Lewis & Clark.